In short
Cebu City is dense, chaotic and well equipped: hospitals, malls, an international airport. Around it, the island offers waterfalls, whale sharks and well-known dive sites.
Moalboal and Oslob are a few hours' drive away.
What it really costs
Condominium rents are low for the level of comfort, with a pool and a gym often included.
Urban transport is cheap but slow: Cebu's traffic is famous across the country.
When to go
January to May, dry. Typhoon season runs June to December, peaking in October and November.
Domestic flights are cancelled regularly during that stretch.
What nobody tells you
Typhoons are not theoretical: they cut power and water for days, sometimes longer.
English is spoken everywhere, which makes the country far easier to live in than its neighbours for a first long stay.